Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Gospel Style Blues Guitar Lesson – How to Use Simple Phrasing – EP361

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play (and improvise) a slow blues lead over a Gospel style jam track. Pay close attention to the simple phrasing used in this lesson, and the pauses (there are more of them than you realize)

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Slow Walk-Through

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Comments

  2. todd55 says

    As a longtime subscriber, it’s been fun and rewarding to improve through these lessons. But it’s equally satisfying to witness how far you’ve come as a teacher, composer, and player. It gives me something that I can relate to for my own journey, having watched you since you were much less advanced. Todd M.

  7. brian-belsey says

    Another very interesting lesson. I look forward to getting into it.

    The Strat looks and sounds great, Brian! You may know that Strats and other Fenders produced from 1963 to 1965 have serial numbers with an L prefix and I believe these are often regarded as the last of the pre-CBS era.

  8. Steve M says

    Very sweet! Glad to hear you talk about phrasing because I think you do it so well. I do agree with you that this impresses me so much more than someone who may be technically proficient but is just constantly shredding a myriad of notes

  10. Robert Burlin says

    Smiling from ear to ear listening to this, with an added gleam knowing that I am going to learn to play this. This one has some Serious Feel to it.

    For me your lessons are made, even tailored just for me. Only took 40 years of playing guitar to finally start playing the way I had been missing and wanting . Didn’t even know what that was until I found Active Melody. Like quantum leaps forward all from your method of teaching and you being you. During this Corona Vacation your creations mean more to me and learning them has gained a new passion. I am almost sure I will submit my first monthly challenge this may. LOve that drop D thing, always knew about but never felt motivated until. You know the rest. Most days end with me thinking man I did not do enough of Brian’s Lesson today, ok, tomorrow I will start early and learn more. I am building a momentum here.
    feel I can’t say enough and that I have said too much already.
    stay cool and safe Mr. Brian

        • George B says

          Brian . You have inspired me so much. I am 73 and never enjoyed the Guitar Playing more ..I play the Gospel Blues song everyday …Getting good at it i muse say …I like the break downs and the clever playing on how to make a few notes sound great …Thank you I have a family relation Duane Allan of the Oak Ridge Boys . Heading down to Nashville soon . Having a ES-335 1977 checked out for new frets…Keep up great work Teacher ….George

    • Don D. says

      Nice lesson, thanks Brian!

      Eli, it is, but it’s not a typical one, because the 2 chord, the B, would usually be a minor chord in the vi ii V7 I (lowercase means minor).

  15. Robert M says

    Wow, I love this one. I just finished perfecting the drop D lesson. I’m gonna try this tomorrow but I do need to work on a few other pieces that’ I started. That 65 is a beauty, I was waiting all week for this lesson, I was betting on a rosewood board sixties vintage in sunburst. I think all sixties had rosewood boards right?

    • jimbostrat says

      Yep!! Had to be custom ordered if/when available in maple!! I prefer the rosewood although I do admit I like my Tele better in maple!! Beauty though, right?? If I was Brian I would have it checked out to make certain it wasn’t a brand new Fender Stratocaster masquerading as a 55 year old classic………this one looks that pristine!! LOL!! Jim C.

  17. Adam f says

    Is there anyway for us to get the chord diagrams as well? I can follow easily and understand the basic version of the chords but get lost when you play the chords on different parts of the neck and would like to be able to learn that part as well.

  19. Simon P says

    Oh Brian! You dirty dirty dog!!!
    I messaged you a while back and pointed out that you hadn’t done a ballad type blues in forever, but this was all I was looking for and more.
    I love blues with dirty notes in, and this was full of them, thank you again

  20. Mike W says

    Thanks Brian – a terrific piece of music. I was also really impressed with the piano backing track – I thought it was a great stand-alone piece. Is it possible to get hold of the music for the piano part ? I don’t play piano,except with one finger, but I think that track could set me going. The guitar part I thought was reminiscent of Peter Green in his heyday – one of my favourite players. Many thanks – keep up the good work, Mike

  21. charjo says

    Brian,
    This is really a beautiful composition. These gospel style pieces are among my favourites. The strat is really gorgeous and looks like it’s hardly been played over all those years. I’d love to hear more back story on the history of this beauty.
    John

  22. Paul S says

    A few things about the Fender: even if it is post CBS, they used up all the inventory before they switched to their own ideas. The head stock is one way but look at the poles in the pickups. If they are all the same height they are CBS. If they are staggered they are Leo’s. After he painstakingly measured the out puts from each pole to give it that great sound we all love, CBS thought it was too time consuming and expensive and made them all the same height. Another reason the popularity just plummeted. Love the lesson! I have a (used) Custom Shop ’65 in Dakota red. I’m anxious to get started on this knowing i can get so close to that tone. Thanks!

  24. Biker13 says

    Hey Brian,

    Great lesson. These bluesy lessons always wind up being my favs. I love the spacing between the soulful phrases. As always, I’m blown away by your prolific and beautiful songwriting.

    The guitar is beautiful too! As new as it looks I knew that was a vintage Strat and I even correctly guessed a ‘65 (I own one so I had a pretty good chance of being right). Amongst purists and collectors the benchmark of the final pre-CBS Strats is an “L series” neck plate. CBS purchased Fender at the beginning of 1965 and guitars from early ‘65 still retain the L series neck plate that first appeared in 1963. When CBS officially took over production the neck plate was changed to have the big script Fender “F” on the neck plate. That “F” neck plate marks the guitar as a product of the CBS era of Fender guitars.

  26. stephen a says

    Hi Brian. How do you choose when to move up and down the fretboard? It seems like this can mostly be played by hanging out around frets 9 – 12 or so and continuing to use the D-shape A on the lower strings. Isn’t it easier to stay in one “box”? Is there a technical or stylistic or sound-related reason for moving around when a piece is mostly all single notes? (Yes, I know it looks cool when rock stars do it.) Thanks.

    • Brian says

      Hey Stephen, you could stay in one box – you’re right… I go back and forth between boxes to slide into them… and they feel different to me… but you certainly could stay in one for that.

      • JohnStrat says

        Jimbostrat,

        It looks to be very almost too clean and thus assuming it is all 65 a very nice guitar indeed and a very rare find. It has a post L series neck plate. The F Plate this is a feature which is after the L series completed at 99,999 and is from late 1965 November December time But I think it is at the very last of the old peg heads for CBS made them slightly bigger right at that time and there appears to be five patent numbers on the Decal. So strictly I don’t think it is pre CBS. LeoFender sold out to CBS for 13 million dollars on 5th of January 1965. So it would appear that this guitar exhibits features of late 1965. But this is the point it is constructed entirely as the last PRE Fender CBS were made and the only changes were the patent and the decal and the F plate as Far as I know or can tell. So it is about as late off the production of Pre CBS as you could find before materiel changes started. it qualifies as a sort after guitar for sure.
        JohnStrat

        • jimbostrat says

          I concur……..not to mention that easily 99% of all guitar enthusiasts especially back then bought these guitars to jam out in musty old basements and garages and bars and maintaining them to look still brand new 55 years later was the very last thing on their minds!! I was extremely happy (and envious!!) to discover this beaut for sale and alert our good friend Brian!! Brian absolutely deserves this and shall keep it looking like this for perhaps another 55 years……..hopefully!!! :>) Jim C.

          • JohnStrat says

            Normans Rare guitars have this video

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLMn3vLwdKM

            Which I think clarifies its official sale status description legally. Because it is all pre CBS parts less the neck F Plate I would imagine it would make most of the price if put up for Auction assuming the rest of it is all 65. I note that there does not appear to be any stress between the pick guard and the screws. I don’t know if it was a problem on the ABS guards which came in, in late 1964 I believe. I have had a browse on the net and saw the 66 see separate post (as I cant attach a file to a reply post) below for sale the crack could have been induced by over tightening of the screws but might have been movement. and the photos shows what happens to many of them. Whether this is an ABS mint green or Acetate I don’t know? Brian might be advised to back the screws of an eighth of a turn in case environmental changes cause any movement and thus stress the pick guard to cracking point. I have no doubt he could get expert advice on that point from Nashville or his pals, I would be interested to know the answer. It is common to see the Pick guard screws pulled over into a tilt notably the one on the lower horn which would seem to indicate quite a change over time in the dimensions from shrinkage.

        • jimbostrat says

          Mark Agnesi (no longer with Norm’s sadly) actually sold me two of my Strats!! The latest was nearly exactly 9 years ago and is a nearly mint condition factory original black 1973 Stratocaster. I bought it on a deal (if you can believe it with Norm!!) for the mid 2s thinking it was about to become the next “it” hot guitar investment…………..I was wrong…………I thought this also about the 1970 models which were just a smidgeon more and these surely have blown up in value!! At any rate, your knowledge of these Fenders is quite impressive John!! I’ll know where to turn next time a whole bunch of money is burning a hole in my pocket which sadly……..doesn’t see very likely these COVID days!!! Jim C.

  34. Laurel C says

    What a fantastic arrangement, it had a voice of its own. Although someone could be singing to this. More than a lesson about phrasing this was an excellent tutorial about the roadmap for this composition. Every step had the details plus more. So much so, that I did the navigation on paper with chord and scale patterns at hand. I was able to put it into context that way to understand it visually and answer the questions. It took over a few hours but the process was a learning adventure and had me hooked (AM University!). Now I just have to learn to play it and with the phrasing.

  35. Michael P says

    Great lesson Brian.

    Lovely Strat and I totally agree – small headstock is what I think of as “pre CBS”

    Don’t think I could get on with the radius though (my Strat is an Eric Johnson – 12 inch radius)

  36. David S says

    Fantastic!!!! Was not a blues fan until I came on board.Now I love it. I realy like this style.Wish you could have gone one more round..You just keep getting better and you know just what we need. Thanks again for all you do. Stay safe Dave

  37. Robert G says

    Brian, I am a beginner and tired of wasting my practice time reading about short comments like “I like, I love” and how great you are. We all know that ! I would rather hear from your students about any problems or difficulties their having with your lessons. You know something constructive that we all could benefit from. Love your lessons!

  38. Arnold M says

    Fond of these “gospel”blue, but finding the timing of this one extremely difficult. I am an older play and an intermediate beginner at best. I struggle with timing most times, but have been focusing on improving that since many times my timing is so far off it is impossible to follow a jamb track.
    On this one you emphasize phrasing, so timing the pauses are important. But some of these in this piece, so far for me are very difficult. For example, measures 3 and into 4 (or 5 and into 6), you have a quarter note, eighth notes and a thirty second note pause! I have no clue how to count that out as I play. Measures 11 and 13 too. Also, in measure 17 on the print out tab you start with a triplet, but the first note of that has a two count- doesn’t appear to be a triplet. (This is shown differently on the on-screen viewer notes.). Thanks Brian. (I’ll keep persevering).

  40. MARTIN C says

    Hi all! Thanks Brian for this beautiful lesson. I would like to understand better the chords involved in this progression. First we have I-IV-V which are A-D-E (or A7-D7-E7). Then we have VI chord (F#m), the relative minor for A, right? But I’m a little confused about Eb dim7 (or D# dim7) and B7. What are those? I think they are related with dominant chords in some way but I’m not really sure. If someone could explain that it would be great for me. Thank you very much!!

  41. Geoffrey B says

    it took some time before Leo’s influence was binned by CBS. After his leaving the L series began until the big headstock took over. For all intents and purposes it’s a Leo so pre CBS. I have a 56 and 61 Strats and a 60 Tele (refinished NOT BY ME). Yours looks and sounds wonderful.

  43. Steven B says

    I feel one of the most valuable aspects of Brians teaching style is the way similar themes are explored in progressive lessons, helping to revisit familiar territory without too much time passing. Certainly helps my old brain but I hope you can come up with additional magic tricks cos I need them haha. So much enjoyment provided here.

  46. Joe C says

    One trick I learned about phrasing is to listen to saxophone solos. Sax players have to stop to breathe and this means that they tend to play in phrases rather than in long continuous solos and so leave space in their playing. Just saying…

  47. John B says

    Hi Brian,
    thanks for the lesson and thanks for sharing about the guitars that you add to your collection. Love the sound of your Strat. Also want to commend you on the quality of your backing tracks. Do you put them together yourself? I am planning to come on over to Nashville to check out Carter’s vintage guitars. I’d love to buy you a beer.

  48. sunburst says

    enjoyed listening and watching this before picking up a guitar.. , lot of good take aways ,,explained theory terms ( arpeggio diminished box cage turnarounds wonderful classic blues licks) I would think the diminished is a substitute chord for this Ray Charles kinda classic gospel…?

    The progression ..you mentioned the 1 and the 4 and around 4:52 in the video it spliced and guessing dim replaces the dominant as sub 5 diminished ? I have to check .. still good basic lesson..Sure I can verify online

  52. Cliff Carbaugh says

    Brian, This sounds soooo Beautiful – would LOVE to be able to play it. I concentrated as best I could until 15:42 but then concluded that it is wayyyy outside of my ballpark! I’m more of a “3rd String, 11th Fret” kind of guy so all your talking about “pentatonic-scale-arpeggio-positions and minor 7th transitions…” is VERY difficult for me to follow. Hopefully, there will be a lesson with this beautiful of a sound that I can actually follow along and learn. Thank you, Cliff

  54. peter b says

    Any chance of extending this lesson? I LOVE playing this, and my only gripe is it’s too short! Thank you so much, but if you could add a bridge or some way of stretching it out, I would be forever grateful.

  55. Craig R says

    Hi Brian -another lovely tune with lots of takeaways. I think the tab has a couple errors, though, in bar 14. It omits the starting A, 5th fret E string, and shows the last note of the run as the D, 7th fret on the G string, I believe you’re showing us the Db on 6th fret, which sounds better in both the E and A chord?? Love this diminished chord stuff, thanks!!

  57. Terry B says

    Brain , Yes Brian you are the Brain! i didn’t read all of the notes but in the lesson do you let us know how to set up the Amp to get the right tone. I have been playing acoustics my whole life and just recently got an Epiphone 339 with a Seymour Duncan 59R pickup at the neck and a JB at the bridge, and a Fender Mustang 2 modeling amp. Can you suggest a setting i should use if you are familiar with that type of Amp? And i don’t get enough time to fully enjoy all that you provide, but enjoy the lessons as i consider it best to be a life long learner. Take care and stay safe. Your Friend Terry Brown

  60. Cliff Carbaugh says

    Hi Brian, Please forgive my last post – This tune sounded so good and I wanted to learn it so fast that I became frustrated and impatient! It took me over a year to learn EP386 – your delightful ‘Boogie-Woogie’ one! 🙂

  63. Nikhil V says

    Do you count the number of notes you play while playing the changes or Do you land on a particular note each time you play a lick ? Do you start at particular any beat ?
    Ho w do we practise such things ?

  64. Thomas F says

    Hi Brian. I just loved this composition! I have learned the guitar part, still needs a little brushing up, and the piano accompaniment is awesome as well. My sister plays the piano and she wants to know if you can include sheet music here for the piano part as well. We would eventually try to work up a duo. I have learned at least a dozen of your songs now and think you are a great guitarist and most importantly a patient and thoughtful teacher! Thank you so much! I have tinkered around with the guitar for almost 45 years but have only made better progress in the past 3 or 4 years that I have been taking these lessons. My sister keeps telling me that I am getting every penny worth of my yearly subscription payments. I love gospel hymns. I learned amazing grace but maybe you could come out with a few more gospel classics such as…How Great Thou art, The old Rugged Cross, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, etc. Thank you so much and keep up the good work!

  65. Glen G says

    I have a simple question, since it was barely touched upon in the lesson; could someone map out the precise chord voicing for the Eb Dim7 chord? It appears the highest note I heard – and could verify from re-running the video a few times – is Fret 5, high E; then Fret 7, B; from that brief glimpse in the video, I sussed out that the two lowest tones in the chord must be Fret 8, G, anchored on the low end by Fret 7, D. So my notes on that voicing would be, low to high, A, Eb,, F#, A.

    Please advise if missed anything on that inversion; I’m in earnest about learning this instrument in all its subtleties, something I took for granted with the bass (I was a natural) and never took practice seriously. Since I”m not a natural on guitar, I have to, like Bob Weir, apply myself extra hard to all the missing bits that fly by, because I have to have the music. I appreciate what you’ve got going here so much, people. It’s made a huge difference in my growth as a guitarist and overall musician.

  67. Peter W says

    I love the lessons you post because the grooves that you post are amazing! I liked this particular Gospel Style Blues because it reminds me of John Mayer’s “I’m Gonna Find Another You”. Up until now, whenever I played guitar, I’ve always just tried to mimic what I see or hear in songs (without thinking about how I could play things differently/improvise if I knew any theory). I really like the direction of your teaching because you really want us to consider how to think freely and to understand the inner mechanisms of what we are playing so we don’t just imitate but actually create. Thank you for the great content Brian and for being a great teacher!

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